Assessment Title: What is unique about the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park?
Name of Corresponding Unit: Our Unique Place
Content Area(s): Global Studies and Language Arts
Creator: Anne Lessard and Rachael Gustaveson
Grade level: 7
Recommended Duration: 8-10 class periods
Vermont Standards & Grade Expectations Addressed:
H&SS7-8:8 Students connect the past with the present by -Describing ways that life in the U.S and/or the world has both changed and stayed the same over time, and explaining why these changes have occurred.
H&SS7-8:12 Students show understanding of human interaction with the environment over time by -Describing how human activity and technology have changed the environment in the U.S. and world for specific purposes (reforestation) -Examining multiple factors in the interaction of humans and the environment (e.g., population size, farmland, and food production).
R7: 15 Generates a well-developed and grounded personal response to what is read through a variety of means and through… -Comparing stories or other texts to related personal experience, prior knowledge, or other texts or ideas
W7: 1 Students use prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and critiquing to produce final drafts of written products.
W7: 6 In response to literary or informational text, students make and support analytical judgments about text by… -Stating and maintaining a focus (purpose), a firm judgment, or a point of view when responding to a given question -Using specific details and references to text or relevant citations to support focus or judgment
W7: 8 In reports, students organize information/concepts by… -Obtaining information from multiple locations or sources when appropriate
W7: 9 In reports, students effectively convey a perspective on a subject by… -Stating and maintaining a focus/controlling idea -Writing with a sense of audience, when appropriate
Assessment Overview: In groups, students will create live presentations for the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Woodstock, VT). Each presentation will be based on the five themes of geography: Location, Place (Physical & Cultural Features), Human-Environment Interaction, Movement, and Region. Experts from the National Park will assess the presentations and give feedback to each group using the rubric. Students will also receive feedback from others in the audience. The experts from the park will pick the top five presentations to present at an evening session open to the public. The experts will choose the themes each group will present. The students will present their themes at the evening session after taking into account expert feedback. All students will be expected to record their group presentation for distribution to all relevant school and local libraries.
Description: Each class will be divided into groups of five. Each student within the groups will be assigned a role: location, place, movement, human environment interaction, and region. A formative assessment evaluates the students’ knowledge on the five themes of geography. Once the students have designated roles, they will travel to MBRNHP to gather information pertaining to each theme. Prior to the trip, students will develop questions that will guide their visit to the park. Each student will be responsible for bringing back information on their own theme to the group in order to prepare for the group presentation.
Every group will prepare a presentation that incorporates technological tools to be given in front of a panel of experts at MBRNHP. These experts will evaluate the presentations according to the given rubric, while other audience members will assess presentation skills. The panel of experts will also choose five of the best groups to present one theme at an evening event. All groups will use the feedback to adjust their presentations before their final filming of the presentations and distribution.
Differentiated Instruction: Differentiation will play a role in-group dynamics. Roles will be assigned according to level of difficulty. Some themes require more abstract thinking and expertise. Furthermore, some students will be more informed about the park and the Woodstock area. These students will be better prepared to take on the more difficult themes. A pre-assessment will determine the level of readiness of each student.
Student-Centered Learning: Students have an authentic audience for the information they are gathering. They will be working in groups to address social-emotional needs. They will be creating new materials using technology relevant to the 21st century learner. Students will also be guided in question asking and will be sharing about themselves and their connection to their hometowns.
Inquiry-Based Learning: Students will be developing their questioning and research skills. In order to create this presentation, they must address the questions they will develop as well as ask questions of experts at the park.
Materials: Computers/Netbooks Rubrics
Resources: Experts from Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park See Resources Page for list of all used throughout the unit.
Assessment Title: What is unique about the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park?
Name of Corresponding Unit: Our Unique Place
Content Area(s): Global Studies and Language Arts
Creator: Anne Lessard and Rachael Gustaveson
Grade level: 7
Recommended Duration: 8-10 class periods
Vermont Standards & Grade Expectations Addressed:
H&SS7-8:8 Students connect the past with the present by
-Describing ways that life in the U.S and/or the world has both changed and stayed the same over time, and explaining why these changes have occurred.
H&SS7-8:12 Students show understanding of human interaction with the environment over time by
-Describing how human activity and technology have changed the environment in the U.S. and world for specific purposes (reforestation)
-Examining multiple factors in the interaction of humans and the environment (e.g., population size, farmland, and food production).
R7: 15 Generates a well-developed and grounded personal response to what is read through a variety of means and through…
-Comparing stories or other texts to related personal experience, prior knowledge, or other texts or ideas
W7: 1 Students use prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and critiquing to produce final drafts of written products.
W7: 6 In response to literary or informational text, students make and support analytical judgments about text by…
-Stating and maintaining a focus (purpose), a firm judgment, or a point of view when responding to a given question
-Using specific details and references to text or relevant citations to support focus or judgment
W7: 8 In reports, students organize information/concepts by…
-Obtaining information from multiple locations or sources when appropriate
W7: 9 In reports, students effectively convey a perspective on a subject by…
-Stating and maintaining a focus/controlling idea
-Writing with a sense of audience, when appropriate
Assessment Overview: In groups, students will create live presentations for the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Woodstock, VT). Each presentation will be based on the five themes of geography: Location, Place (Physical & Cultural Features), Human-Environment Interaction, Movement, and Region. Experts from the National Park will assess the presentations and give feedback to each group using the rubric. Students will also receive feedback from others in the audience. The experts from the park will pick the top five presentations to present at an evening session open to the public. The experts will choose the themes each group will present. The students will present their themes at the evening session after taking into account expert feedback. All students will be expected to record their group presentation for distribution to all relevant school and local libraries.
Description: Each class will be divided into groups of five. Each student within the groups will be assigned a role: location, place, movement, human environment interaction, and region. A formative assessment evaluates the students’ knowledge on the five themes of geography. Once the students have designated roles, they will travel to MBRNHP to gather information pertaining to each theme. Prior to the trip, students will develop questions that will guide their visit to the park. Each student will be responsible for bringing back information on their own theme to the group in order to prepare for the group presentation.
Every group will prepare a presentation that incorporates technological tools to be given in front of a panel of experts at MBRNHP. These experts will evaluate the presentations according to the given rubric, while other audience members will assess presentation skills. The panel of experts will also choose five of the best groups to present one theme at an evening event. All groups will use the feedback to adjust their presentations before their final filming of the presentations and distribution.
Differentiated Instruction: Differentiation will play a role in-group dynamics. Roles will be assigned according to level of difficulty. Some themes require more abstract thinking and expertise. Furthermore, some students will be more informed about the park and the Woodstock area. These students will be better prepared to take on the more difficult themes. A pre-assessment will determine the level of readiness of each student.
Student-Centered Learning: Students have an authentic audience for the information they are gathering. They will be working in groups to address social-emotional needs. They will be creating new materials using technology relevant to the 21st century learner. Students will also be guided in question asking and will be sharing about themselves and their connection to their hometowns.
Inquiry-Based Learning: Students will be developing their questioning and research skills. In order to create this presentation, they must address the questions they will develop as well as ask questions of experts at the park.
Materials:
Computers/Netbooks
Rubrics
Resources:
Experts from Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park
See Resources Page for list of all used throughout the unit.
Links:
Rubric